Press Releases

Wasserman Schultz, Groups Statement on FL Women's Health Bill

Only 72 hours have passed since the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and Republican politicians in Tallahassee wasted no time pursuing their obsession over interfering with a woman's right to make her own decisions about her body and her health. This bill would not only harm women's access to family planning services, but it would also endanger their ability to obtain life-saving services like cancer screenings. Instead of engaging in politically-motivated attacks based on illegal and altered videos, these lawmakers should be working to expand women's access to quality, affordable health care.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) and representatives from the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Council of Jewish Women, and the National Abortion Federation issued the following statement today after S.B. 1722 passed the Florida Senate’s Health Policy Committee:

“Only 72 hours have passed since the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and Republican politicians in Tallahassee wasted no time pursuing their obsession over interfering with a woman's right to make her own decisions about her body and her health. This bill would not only harm women's access to family planning services, but it would also endanger their ability to obtain life-saving services like cancer screenings. Instead of engaging in politically-motivated attacks based on illegal and altered videos, these lawmakers should be working to expand women’s access to quality, affordable health care,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz.

“This legislation would mandate a slew of medically unnecessary regulations of health providers in Florida and endanger women by potentially causing the closure of health centers. The bill also attempts to defund family planning services provided by Planned Parenthood, which would have the effect of denying contraception, cancer screenings and testing and treatment of sexually transmitted infections to thousands of low income patients,” said Laura Goodhue, Executive Director of the Florida Alliance for Planned Parenthood Affiliates.

“Yet again, the anti-choice movement is doing whatever it can to undermine a woman's access to health care. These bills have nothing to do with women’s safety – they’re a direct attempt to interfere in a woman’s right to a safe and legal abortion and access to birth control and other preventive services. Regulations based purely on anti-choice politics have no place in Florida, or the rest of the country,” said Kaylie Hanson, National Communications Director for NARAL Pro-Choice America.

“The anti-women’s reproductive choice bills being heard in committees this week are an insult to Florida’s women. These TRAP bills circumvent a woman’s right to make her own medical choices by providing unnecessary and unfair regulations on abortion providers. The Florida legislature should focus on improving health care and access for all women. NCJW will continue to fight for Florida’s women by mobilizing its thousands of members and supporters in Florida to contact their legislators and oppose these bills,” said Janet Solitt, Vice President of the National Council of Jewish Women.

“Abortion is one of the safest medical procedures currently provided in the United States. In the rare event of a complication, a woman can go to a hospital and receive emergency treatment even if her physician doesn’t have admitting privileges. Many well-qualified doctors in other states with similar laws have not been able to obtain such privileges, forcing their clinics to close and denying many women access to the abortion care they need,” said Vicki Saporta, President and CEO of the National Abortion Federation.